Grant, Gleeson Join “Paddington” Sequel

Hugh Grant and Brendan Gleeson are set to join the cast of the Paul King-directed “Paddington” sequel which has already begun principal photography.

Ben Whishaw and Imelda Staunton, who provide the voices of Paddington and Aunt Lucy respectively, are set to reprise their roles in the follow-up to 2014’s critically acclaimed and commercially successful reboot of the beloved children’s franchise.

The sequel sees the beloved bear, happily settled with the Brown family and a popular member of the local community, embark upon a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday, only for the gift to be stolen.

Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, Madeleine Harris and Samuel Joslin are all returning. Grant will play Phoenix Buchanan, a vain and charming acting legend and local celebrity who has fallen on hard times. Gleeson plays ‘Knuckles’ McGinty, a notorious safe-cracker and strongman who becomes an unexpected ally for Paddington.

The first film grossed $270 million worldwide to become the highest grossing independent family film of all time.